Turmeric supplementation improves the quality of life and hematological parameters in breast cancer patients on paclitaxel chemotherapy: A case series.

BACKGROUND: and purpose: Phytochemicals are proven to be effective in targeting numerous signaling pathways in cancer. Utilizing plant-based support in combination with currently approved chemotherapeutic strategies might prove a feasible method to improve therapeutic outcomes in cancer patients. The present study aimed to estimate the effect of turmeric supplementation on quality of life (QoL) and hematological parameters in breast cancer patients on Paclitaxel chemotherapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present study is a prospective consecutive case series with 60 participants. QoL was assessed using a standard questionnaire and hematological parameters were recorded from the patients' hospital records. RESULTS: Turmeric supplementation for 21 days resulted in clinically relevant and statistically significant improvement in global health status, symptom scores (fatigue, nausea, vomiting, pain, appetite loss, insomnia), and hematological parameters. CONCLUSION: The study findings show that turmeric supplementation improved QoL, brought about symptom palliation and increased hematological parameters in breast cancer patients.

Data set on the characterization of the phytoestrogenic extract and isolated compounds of the roots of Inula racemosa Hook F (Asteraceae).

The data presented in this article are related to the research article entitled ' Phyto estrogenic effect of Inula racemosa Hook. f - A cardio protective root drug in traditional medicine, (Mangathayaru K, Divya R, Srivani T et al., 2018) [1]. It describes the characterization details of the root extract and the compounds isolated from them that were shown to be phytoestrogenic in vivo and in vitro respectively.

MD-1, a poly herbal formulation indicated in diabetes mellitus ameliorates glucose uptake and inhibits adipogenesis - an in vitro study.

BACKGROUND: Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) is a polygenic disease requiring a multipronged therapeutic approach. In the current scenario, the use of polyherbals is increasing among the diabetics. MD-1, a poly herbal formulation is constituted as a mixture of six popular anti diabetic herbs, used in the management of Diabetes mellitus (DM). The physicochemical, biochemical and in vitro efficacy studies have been carried out to ascertain the possible mechanisms underlying the anti-diabetic action of MD-1. METHODS: MD-1 was evaluated for residual toxins as per Ayurvedic Pharmacoepia of India (API) procedures. The hydro alcoholic extract of the formulation (HAEF) was evaluated for anti oxidant activity against 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazil (DPPH) and nitric oxide radicals in vitro. The effect of HAEF on carbohydrate digestive enzymes α-glucosidase and α-amylase was studied using biochemical assays. HAEF was studied for its glucose lowering potential in L6 myotubes and 3T3L1 preadipocytes, using 2-deoxy-D-[1-3H] glucose (2-DG) uptake assay. Effect of MD-1 on adipogenesis was evaluated in 3T3L1 adipocytes using oil O red staining. The effect of HAEF on mRNA expression of peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) and glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) in 3T3L1 adiocytes was investigated by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Statistical analysis was performed by student t-test, ANOVA. RESULTS: Residual toxins present within the API limits and HAEF demonstrated strong antioxidant potential and significantly inhibited the α-glucosidase (IC50 63.6 ± 0.46 µg/mL) and α-amylase (IC50 242.81 ± 1.26 µg/mL) activity. HAEF significantly (p < 0.05) enhanced the insulin stimulated glucose uptake in both the cell lines studied. Unlike standard pioglitazone (PGZ), HAEF modulated the mRNA expression of PPARγ and GLUT4 (p < 0.0001) in 3T3L1 adipocytes, without inducing adipogenesis. CONCLUSION: Physicochemical parameters established in the study may serve as reference standards in regular quality control. Absence of residual toxins underpins the safety. The enhanced glucose uptake and favorable modulation of insulin sensitivity through a plausible weak PPARγ agonism is similar to the distinct PPARγ activation pattern of several reported natural compound agonists. The differential binding modes of such dynamic combinatorial ligands within the formulation unlike synthetic ligands like thiozolidinediones (TZD) can be linked to the safe mitigation of diabetic complications by MD-1.

Phytoestrogenic effect of Inula racemosa Hook f - A cardioprotective root drug in traditional medicine.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Roots of Inula racemosa are used as a cardio protective in Ayurveda in India, being prescribed as a medicine for precordial chest pain, cough and dyspnoea, both singly and as a poly herbal. AIM: Evaluation of Phytoestrogenic activity of the root extracts of Inula racemosa and compounds isolated therefrom in vivo, in silico and in vitro. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Alcohol (IrA) and hexane (IrH) extracts characterized by HPTLC/GC-MS analysis respectively and processed for compound isolation were evaluated for estrogenic activity (100 & 250mg/kg bw) by the Immature rat uterotrophic assay using ethinylestradiol (EE -30µg/kg bw) as standard drug. Alantolactone (ALT), Isoalantolactone (IALT) and Stigmasterolglucoside (SG) isolated from the extracts were characterized and screened in silico for ERα, ERß binding affinity, assessed in vitro for growth modulatory effects on MCF-7 cells by MTT assay and cell cycle distribution analysis using Flow cytometry. RT-PCR analysis evaluated the mRNA expression of pS2 in these cells post exposure to ALT, IALT and SG. RESULTS: In the IrA treated groups there has been a statistically significant increase (P < 0.05) in absolute and normalised uterine weight, uterine diameter, endometrial thickness, luminal epithelial cell height,diameter of ovary and in the number of primary and secondary ovarian follicles relative to untreated controls. Presence of ciliated epithelial cells in the oviduct, elevated number of early growing follicles characterized by an increased oocyte diameter, and signs of vascularization in the cortex of ovarian sections in this group relative to EE treated group are indicative of pervasive activation of follicular growth and initiation. Virtual docking demonstrated ERα affinity for IALT, ERß affinity for ALT, while SG showed a high binding affinity to both with a relatively greater ERß binding affinity. Dose dependent decrease in cell viability mediated by IALT and SG in the MTT assay is corroborated by a statistically significant increase (p < 0.05) in sub G0-G1 cells by SG at 200 and 400µM in cell cycle analysis and there has been an induction of pS2 by IALT and SG in the ER regulated MCF-7 cells. CONCLUSIONS: Demonstration of classical morphological changes induced by estrogen stimulation mediated by IrA in vivo at both the tested doses, isolation of the antioxidant SG from IrA and its dose dependent growth inhibitory effect on estrogen sensitive MCF-7 cells through apoptotic induction and an up regulation of pS2 are suggestive of an anti-estrogenic effect through estrogen receptor binding affinity, typical of phytoestrogens that bind to ER but do not elicit a full estrogenic response. The observed estrogenic effect of IrA suggests a multi mechanistic molecular action involving antioxidant as well as redox signalling pathways acting in consonance with their anti-estrogenic effects owing to the weak estrogen like competitive receptor binding of SG.